SA Rugby issue 120-word statement on Bongi Mbonambi findings
SA Rugby have welcomed the drawing to a close of the World Rugby investigation into Bongi Mbonambi in a 120-word statement. The union have said they had absolute faith in Mbonambi’s version of events from the outset.
World Rugby’s decision to close its investigation into the alleged racist slur directed at Tom Curry by Mbonambi due to insufficient evidence broke this morning.
Curry claimed to referee Ben O’Keeffe in the second quarter of England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa on Saturday that he had been called a “white c***” by hooker Mbonambi.
In an unexpected development, the RFU revealed that it disclosed to the inquiry that Curry “had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player” when the rivals clashed at Twickenham last November.
World Rugby announced it has been unable to find evidence of either incident, but the RFU insists the case should have been presented to an independent disciplinary hearing.
Unlike the RFU, SA Rugby welcomed the findings.
“SA Rugby has noted World Rugby’s announcement concerning their investigation into an incident arising from the Rugby World Cup semi-final and welcomes the decision that no further action will be taken.
“Any form of racism is abhorrent to SA Rugby and the Springbok team whose purpose is to do everything in its power to assist in uniting our diverse and multicultural nation.
“Bongi Mbonambi is an experienced, respected and decorated Test player and, needless to say, denied the allegations from the outset. SA Rugby has absolute faith in the honesty and integrity of Bongi.
“The team’s focus remains, as it has throughout the week, on Saturday’s match against New Zealand.
“SA Rugby will make no further comment on the matter.”
The RFU have alleged that Mbonambi had made a similar slur last year during the Autumn Nations Series.
“The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the 2022 autumn Test. World Rugby have today announced their decision not to bring charges in respect of either incident,” read their statement this morning, which you can read in full in the below link.
additional reporting PA
Must be difficult for Faf de Klerk. He played with Tom Curry at Sale for several years and knows him to be a decent man of his word. And now he has to wear the same jersey…
He knows Bongi far better…
The very best thing curry could have done at the time was to give Mbonambi a proper smack in the mouth.
Job done.
Hate to think what Curry would have looked like if he’d tried that
probably improve his looks as well…..
If Curry hit Bongi in the mouth he'd be off on a stretcher before he knew what happened.
Give Bongi a smack in the mouth ? Curry would miss. Didn't he say that he was not aiming for the Argentinian’s head when he was red carded or was he lying ?
This is stupid... The boks speak Afrikaans to one another. Guy definitely misheard. 😂
🤣🤣
yawn
Exactly. Well said.
Ha Ha the Boks are winners. Victory number one, no defamation, victory number two, see Saturday. Ag please daddy, take us to the ball game! All five, six, seven of us!
Big shoutout to the RFU for helping the ABs with their odds of a win in the weekend. Great distraction for the bok camp. Couple of 1 point wins and a racial issue and these boys will be nicely mentally fatigued.
Which is exactly why it will take the NH at least another 20 years to win the WC. For the Springboks I can assure you. The main thing is the main thing. England, France, Ireland all get distracted by peripheral issues. This will affect England in the losers play-off far more than it will affect the `Boks who, believe me have not even muttered one sentence about it.
Don’t worry Paul we Saffa’s are used to all type’s of controversies where we come from, not the first in Rugby, the week before Reinach received death threads, last WC Eben Etsebeth was also accused of racism after they had a dinner out with friends before leaving for the WC. So nothing new for the Boks we also know other then Africa the rest of the World wants AB’s to win. This is what sets the Saffa’s and Boks apart from other nations and makes us stronger together. We have many cultures in SA and that is what makes us what we are, resilient never die never give up human beings, this is why the last two games, was it any other side including AB’s they would have lost those games, but not the Boks, I can’t explain it unless you are a Saffa. We either go Big or go home and this the reason for 7/1 split it takes big balls to do this in a final.
Think again
Quite stunning that the RFU openly defamed Bongi in response. Hope this continues to distract the Bokkies. ABs by 20+
The ABs skill factor will shine through no doubt.
Think again
‘The subsequent World Rugby investigation were informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the autumn Test 2022. So Bongi has got away with it again. This stinks of a cover up
Or that Curry is a habitual liar ?
Hey Wayne, can you provide proof please?
But surely it cannot just stop here? Can anyone make an accusation, and then when no proof is found, life goes on as if nothing happened? Surely the accuser (whatever he believes or imagines) should accept the “judge’s” decision and make some statement to clear the accused’s name. I mean, can one without any evidence just accuse somebody of racism like that? Here in South Africa, this is a really fckng serious matter. Does Curry realise that?
Your logic goes both ways mate - there is no evidence that Curry is lying either. So they can’t clear his name, an accusation has been made, there no proof that it did or didn't happen…and those are the facts, end of story. Also, it is not a big deal in SA at all - he was accused of calling him a “white c*nt”…you're allowed to do that in SA…students have worn T shirts at UCT that say “kill all white people”…nothing happened to them…political leaders sing songs calling for killing of Afrikaans farmers…nothing happens to them. So no, it's not serious in SA at all unless the victim is black. In SA the government does not see everyone the same.
Kwasi not in the UK those poms sleep with their mothers
There could even be a legal case for defamation, dont think Boks could be bothered right now, bigger fish to fry
I suggest that after last 2 games of rugby, Bongi and Tom have a dinner together and sort this out like adults. Most people in the world have differed with someone at some stage, and sitting down and sharing a meal, often find they are actually both good people. Paris has many superb restaurants, and behaving like mature adults will go a long way to sorting this out. Leaving it to WR and all the social media sites is only going to make it worse. Suggest you both grow up and do the right thing.
I doubt you would suggest the same if the accused and accusor swapped roles
Gerald 😂 would love you to tell them to grow up to their face
Difficult. Tom doesn’t go out with hookers…..
Vamos Los Pumas
Regardless of the outcome in such moments, it’s often worthwhile considering the situation if the roles were reversed. If Mbonambi made the accusation, as a South African, I would want him to be heard and taken seriously. If it turns out to be a misunderstanding, then so be it, but I would still want it to be okay to express his version of things without fear of backlash. I would likewise be horrified, as I was last week regarding Cobus Reinach if people went after Mbonambi’s family.
On the flip side, if Tom Curry were the one being accused, I’m sure my fellow English fans would want him to be given a fair shake, being innocent until proven guilty and not thrown to the courts of popular opinion. I’m also sure you would be horrified at the prospect of him being sanctioned without evidence.
Let’s put this aside and enjoy what will most likely be a fantastic weekend of rugby. Good luck to all the teams involved!
I think that creates a false equivalence. What is “racist” about a black person calling white person, “white.” Since when is being called “white” or a “white” “anything” “racist? Whites have done quite well for themselves so when called a White C, the response should be, don’t call me a C, but I don’t understand why it is such a shocking thing to be called “White” in that context. Is there a history of discrimination against whites? Are whites marginalised? Are whites currently structurally discriminated against? Do Blacks think that they are racially superior to whites? Flip it around, and you dredge up the long history of white on black racism starting with slavery, eugenics, segregation etc. So I’m sorry to say, you can’t compare the two. People in SA are making light of this matter because no serious person believes calling an Englishman a White C constitutes “racial abuse.” Racialised maybe, but not racist or racist abuse. It’s laughable. And hate to say it, but judging by how the English media has behaved in this case, it’s certainly not inaccurate to make use of the C word. Bongi is on the right Kant of history.
Time to move on
If world rugby and the RFU can't agree a story they need to go back to the process. They’ve served up nonsense with this half assed bs.